BY BROCK SHERIDAN
After coming from off the pace to finish third as the favorite most recently in both the Henry Clark at Laurel Park and in the Cliff Hanger at Monmouth Park, Florida-bred Forever Souper and jockey Mychel Sanchez switched tactics to win the $100,000 Prince George’s County Sunday at Laurel. As the 4-5 favorite, Forever Souper led from the start before drawing off in the stretch for a nearly five-length thrashing of the mile-and-an-eighth contest for 3-year-olds and older.
“It just kind of worked out that way,” winning trainer Michael Trombetta said of the front-running tactics. “None of the other horses had a whole lot of speed and having the rail draw, I told Mychel that unless something goes wrong, he’s going to be in control. So just do the best you can with that, and that’s exactly what happened.”
Breaking from post one in the short field reduced to four after four scratches, Forever Souper and jockey Mychel Sanchez went right to the front and led 6-5 second choice Highland Chief (Ire) into the clubhouse turn.
Forever Souper kept a length on Highland Chief in second down the backstretch with Hardspun Reason another three lengths back in third. Forever Souper completed the half-mile in :48 then began to extend his margin around the far turn. He was four lengths in front at the top of the stretch and raced under the wire four-and-three-quarters faster than Highland Chief in second in a final time of 1:46.27 on the firm course.
The Addison Pour was a length-and-a-quarter farther back in third with Hardspun Reason fourth. Ain’t Da Beer Cold, Eldest Son, Stellar Lute and Wow Whata Summer scratched.
Forever Souper paid $3.60 to win.
“This horse has just done so good for us,” Trombetta said. “We had him last summer at Monmouth, he won a few races. Then we went to South Florida and he won a few stakes down there. He’s just held his form so good. He’s had a couple of races where he didn’t have the best of racing luck. But other than, that he’s about as genuine as could be.”
The Prince George’s County is the first stakes victory against open company for the 5-year-old gelding, who earlier this year took two stakes versus fellow Florida-breds. He won the $95,000 Sunshine Turf going nine furlongs at Gulfstream Park in January and the $100,000 ESMARK Turf Classic at a mile-and-an-eighth during Florida Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs on March 24.
He was unlucky in a difficult trip in the $99,000 Henry Clark won by Dataman going a mile on April 20 then could not catch that rival again in the $110,000 Cliffhanger on May 25.
Forever Souper is by American Pharoah out of Mighty Souper, by War Front and has now earned $352,255 for his owner and breeder Live Oak Plantation.
He now has seven wins with one second and four thirds in 16 career starts.
Mighty Souper was campaigned throughout her multiple stakes-placed career by Live Oak Plantation, who purchased her has a yearling at the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $275,000. Live Oak Plantation since sold her to D & D in the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
Forever Souper is the only stakes horse for Mighty Souper, who has two starters, both are winners from five foals. She has an unraced 3-year-old filly, Souper Gin Can Win, by Lookin At Lucky; an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Lookin At Lucky; a yearling colt, Yo Paul, by Yaupon and an unnamed weanling filly by Ocala Stud’s Roadster.
